Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has introduced legislation to lift the 30-patient limit on group practices prescribing addiction treatments.

While the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA) laid the groundwork for a new approach to treating opiate addictions by allowing certified physicians to prescribe Subutex (buprenorphine) and Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) in their offices, DATA allows group practices to treat only 30 patients at a time. Federal regulators interpret this rule broadly, including large HMOs and entire academic medical centers as "group practices."

Hatch's legislation (S. 1887) would eliminate the ban altogether. The bill is in the Judiciary Committee and was co-sponsored by Senators Joe Biden of Delaware and Carl Levin of Michigan.

(Visit the Join Together Legislative Action Center to express your views on this bill to a Judiciary Committee member, if you are a constituent, or to your Senator.)

In addition, SAMHSA is planning several activities to increase the number of people trained to prescribe buprenorphine, including:

• A mentor program for those who are considering prescribing the medication or are in the early stages;
• An online bulletin board for waivered doctors, featuring expert moderators;
• Educating pharmacy associations and boards; and
• Expanding training to NAADAC members, psychologists, therapists, and social workers.